An Ode to the Sinulog

Discover the colors and sounds of one of the country’s grandest events.

The dance is a central part of the Sinulog. Photo courtesy of Jumelito Capilot

For more than four decades now, the Sinulog Festival has been a vessel to showcase Cebu's cultural heritage.

Cebu, the Queen City of the South - where the tropical sun kisses both verdant hills and pristine seascapes - like a true queen, keeps many secrets; those that whisper of ancient tales, and the Sinulog is one that is replete with traditional lore.

It would actually be a disservice to label it merely as a festival- it is practically the heartbeat of a city, one that transcends time and memory.

HISTORY

Lost in the mesmerizing spectacle of the festivities are the origins of the Sinulog.

History tells us that the Sinulog traces back to the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Sugbu, and the gifting of Queen Juana with the image of the Child Jesus.

The first Sinulog was purportedly a dance of thanksgiving offered by a native named Baladhay, who deemed himself favored after finding the Santo Nino image amidst the rubble after a momentous battle.

His movements mimicked the ebb and flow of the water's current, and the etymology of the word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano term “sulog” or current, hence, the term Sinulog as it is a dance movement patterned after the undulating currents of the river or sea.

A MODERN TAKE

The modern origins of the organized festival can be attributed to David “Boy” Odilao, then the Regional Director of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development who conceptualized a cultural showcase to promote Cebu's history and the first iteration in 1981 was hugely successful.

As a child, this writer vividly remembers experiencing anxiety and scurrying back inside the house when huge replicas drawn on wood of “Higantes” (giants) with large unblinking eyes would pass by our streets.

These colorful masks often depict elements from the local folklore

Over the years, the festival grew in scale and popularity, attracting participants from neighboring provinces and introducing myriad categories for judging.

Eventually, a Sinulog Foundation was organized to oversee and organize the event and it has received international acclaim.

But what remains equable is that fabled Sinulog dance movement: one step backward, two steps forward in time with a nuanced drum beat- while the dancer undulates and swirls, the graceful movements in tune with hundreds if not thousands of other dancers all in unison resulting in a one vibrant marvelous tapestry- in celebration of our irrevocable love for the Sto Nino.

Pit Senor!